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| The Chandler Oak Winter 2013 |
Over the years the Chandler family’s achievements were many. In 1873 William Chandler, his wife Katie and their three children moved to the area. Leaving William’s Fathers successful nursery in Malvern to clear 40 acres to establish his own farm. Legend has it that he and his wife planted an acorn that grew into the heritage listed English Oak that stands outside the boundary fence of the family property “Como” on Sheffield road. As the oak grew and spread upward so did the Chandler family.
William and Katie had 11 children all up, 8 boys and 3 girls. With the expanding family came growing success. William would buy more land in the area and become a foundation councilor of the Ferntree Gully shire. Totaling three inherited traits that would follow on through the generations. Horticulture, civic duty and land speculation. William made his children work hard with the expectation that they would acquire property and economic support when they left home. The Parents certainly instilled a fine work ethic in their children. Most successful was Alfred who established his own nursery Everson, which stills continues in name today. He grew daffodils and boronia, abandoning the boronia after it was susceptible to disease. He also became a councilor and eventually was given the honour of naming his own suburb: Boronia after the flower he tried to unsuccessfully grow. He was offered to name the suburb after himself but declined.
Alfred took his political aspirations one step further and joined the Legislative Council and became a Minister in the State Government. He had the Chandler highway named after him which also involves him in a World Record as it is the shortest Highway in the world and has remained so for decades.
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| William and Katie Chandler dynasty builders |
Alfred was a committed community man. He donated land for the Boronia Progress Hall and the Methodist Church. He was a justice of the peace and a member of the Bayswater Brass Band. His nursery was opened to the public to raise funds for local charities which he and his wife sponsored. Alfred’s son Gilbert went onto be the most celebrated member of the family going onto be district cricketer, VFL footballer for Hawthorn, serving as a councillor on the Ferntree Gully Shire before going onto a career in State politics. Which resulted in a notable stint as Minister of agriculture, Under his leadership the Department achieved a high level of development which contributed to the advancement of Victorian primary industry, especially in the areas of animal husbandry, research into animal and plant diseases, and the economic management of farms. The Gilbert Chandler Institute of Dairy Technology at Werribee was named in his honour.
A man of great ability he was on the 1956 Olympic committee. Churchill National Park's committee of management and a committee-member of the Fern Tree Gully National Park, He chaired the government's bush fires relief committee and served as president of the Boronia Basin division of the St John Ambulance Brigade. All these achievements culminated in the rewarding of a Knighthood in 1972. Gilbert’s brother Alan another notable member of the family who also served as a councillor on the Shire was instrumental in helping the establishment of the Boronia Bowls club. Of course, all this just brushes over the surface of the families accomplishments there was involvement in the establishment of hospitals, postal service, schools, halls and involvement in the fire services and I have only concentrated on the male members.
A notable female member is Fergus (Alfred’s nephew) Chandler’s wife Edna. Her most distinguished award being an MBE in 1978 for services to the community and to The Basin Theatre. In 1948, the above mentioned Fergus’ Father Bert after setting up his two older sons, helped his youngest son John to obtain part of the original Como property. They formed a partnership as Bert Chandler and Son. The business continued successfully for 40 more years. In 1988 the Como property was sold and after 117 years was no longer in Chandler Family hands.
Meanwhile, the oak back at Sheffield road kept growing. These days it has become a historical site with a stone maker and plaque. The plaque gives a brief history and ends with the words “One of the finest specimens of this tree in Australia please help to protect it.” Now 138 years old it has become an icon and been classified by the National Trust because of its size, form and historical significance. The tree has been pruned a number of times over the years and in 1982, to support the weight of its massive limbs steel cables were attached from the main trunk. Over enthusiastic pruning by Knox Council (who are responsible for its well being) has on occasions led to the intervention of local residents.
Some believe that Melbourne Water should take some action with Dobson’s creek encroaching upon the trees wide based trunk a product of erosion. The consensus being that with age the mighty landmark needs a lot more attention not from anyone authority but from all in a concerted effort to protect and maintain a valuable piece of local history.
Most of the information for this article was taken from articles and books found in two of the most important buildings in Knox. The Boronia Library and the Ambleside, home of the Knox Historical Society.
Originally published in the BBCN Issue 214 August 2013
